Derry moves closer to plan for Weber Forest to allow timber cut

DERRY — Next month, the Conservation Commission should be closer to a forest management plan that will allow for the cutting of some timber in the Weber Forest conservation area.

Charlie Moreno, a consulting forester who has worked with the town before, will be presenting a plan to the commission at its Sept. 9 meeting.

."I've talked with Charlie Moreno about coming to the September meeting," said Conservation Commission Chairman Margaret Ives. "He's going to redesign the management plan, and he's given us an initial quote of $4,200."..Ives said she also has had initial conversations with David Gomez from the town assessor's office about applying for a permit for timber cutting in the forest.

"He's the person in the assessor's office we file with when there's going to be a timber cut," Ives said. "Dave highly recommended that we get a management plan for Weber."..The last time any timbering was done in the forest was in the late 1980s, and at that time, timber was cut from only 50 of the property's 200 acres, according to Ives.

"When Charlie comes in September, we will be able to review the management plan with him," said Ives.Commission member Richard Tripp previously asked if the amount of money the commission took in from the timber harvest would recoup the money paid out for the study.Ives said the timber harvest should easily cover the cost of the study, noting the timber harvest at the Shepard conservation property netted several thousand dollars...The town typically looks at a timber harvest for its forest properties about every 25 years, Ives said.